Upcoming Changes to WestJet Rewards Tier Qualifying Spend Thresholds in 2027

There’s big news today for WestJet frequent flyers, as the airline has announced its latest round of increases to the spending thresholds required for earning elite status with WestJet Rewards. 

Starting January 1, 2027, the Tier Qualifying Spend (TQS) needed for Silver, Gold, and Platinum status will rise by 25–50%.

Importantly, the benefits at each tier are set to stay the same, so the news today is that the cost of getting there is changing.

In this article, we’ll go over the new thresholds and the transition incentives WestJet is offering. We’ll also look at what the changes mean for you, depending on how comfortably you qualify today.

Upcoming Changes to WestJet Rewards Tier Status Requirements in 2027

As of January 1, 2027, WestJet is increasing the TQS requirement for all three of its status tiers.

Silver, Gold, and Platinum are each getting higher TQS requirements, and the increases get steeper as you move up the ladder. 

This is the second increase to Tier Qualifying Spending thresholds in two years. 

On January 1, 2025, the Silver threshold rose from $3,000 to $4,000 TQS, the Gold threshold moved from $5,000 to $6,000 TQS, and the Platinum threshold moved from $8,000 to $10,000 TQS.

In other words, in the span of two years, the TQS thresholds have risen:

• By 67% for Silver ($3,000 (2018–2024) to $4,000 (2025–2026) to $5,000 (2027–?))
• By 60% for Gold ($5,000 (2018–2024) to $6,000 (2025–2026) to $8,000 (2027–?))
• By 87.5% for Platinum ($8,000 (2018–2024) to $10,000 (2025–2026) to $15,000 (2027–?))

In 2025, more of what you spent with WestJet (e.g., Other ATC, baggage fees, and seat fees) counted towards TQS, as outlined in the section below.

For its part, WestJet says the number of elite members in its ranks has grown significantly over the past couple of years. According to the airline, the number of Platinum members alone has doubled since the beginning of 2025 (when the last round of changes took effect).

Since WestJet’s elite status program is strictly spend-based, higher fuel costs being passed down to travellers and ticket price inflation have pushed more members to status faster. WestJet adds that the higher thresholds are meant to protect access to benefits like lounge access and priority services.

Transition incentives for 2027

To cushion the blow, WestJet is offering two temporary incentives for WestJet Rewards members:

• 50% TQS bonus on flights: Eligible flights booked by the end of 2026 for travel in the first quarter of 2027 earn 50% more TQS, so a flight that earns $1,000 TQS would earn $1,500 TQS. You’ll need to register for this, ideally through the one-click link in WestJet’s announcement email.
• 50% bonus on Status Lifts: Your first 10 Status Lifts in 2027 earn $300 TQS per $5,000 spent instead of $200 TQS. That covers up to $50,000 in spending and adds up to $3,000 TQS instead of $2,000 TQS.

Status Lifts apply to the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard and the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business. The maximum number of Status Lifts per year also rises from 50 to 75 in 2027.

Here’s how much card spending it would take to earn each tier through Status Lifts alone, at the standard rate of $200 TQS per $5,000:

The 2027 transition incentives close some of that gap, since your first 10 Status Lifts would earn $3,000 TQS on $50,000 in spending. Another 10 Status Lifts at the standard rate would add $2,000 TQS on a further $50,000.

Put another way, Silver through card spending alone still costs $100,000 in 2027, the same as today, but only for the first year. Surely, there’s not a lot of people who qualify for status through credit-card spend alone, and it’s rather just a way to supplement your paid flying activity.

Keep in mind that Silver status is also a cardholder benefit of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business, so new business cardholders get Silver without hitting the threshold. Keeping it as an annual benefit requires $30,000 in eligible spending each calendar year.

Analyzing the Changes to WestJet TQS in 2027

Whenever there are big changes to a status program like these, there’s typically a mixed reaction that depends on how comfortably you clear the thresholds today. 

With a high number of people in the upper two status thresholds (Gold and Platinum), it can be frustrating when promised benefits aren’t delivered consistently, especially at the top-tier Platinum level. 

If you’re someone who blows past the TQS thresholds each year, a smaller elite group is a welcome change.

On the other hand, if you’re someone who just squeaks by or has to finesse your way to status, the goal posts are moving by a significant margin (especially if you consider how far they’ve moved since just two years ago). That’s a much tougher pill to swallow, and the reaction will be negative from this pool of folks.

It’s also worth noting here that the program went through major changes in 2025. 

Some positives came of that, such as more paid flying activity counting towards TQS and elite members gaining more perks. On the other hand, Milestone Awards changed for the worse and the TQS requirements increased, while members got used to WestJet points replacing WestJet dollars.

Lounge access

In my opinion, the new thresholds won’t do much to ease lounge crowding, which is a problem that’s not unique to WestJet.

Gold and Platinum members get the same lounge benefit as part of their status perks (unlimited lounge access with family privileges + 2 transferable guest vouchers), and with the new thresholds, it’s the folks who reach $7,999 TQS or less that will miss out (at least on access through status).

In other words, anyone moving from Platinum to Gold won’t notice a change in their lounge access provisions, and it’s really only anyone who will move from Gold to Silver who will be affected.

WestJet’s flagship Elevation lounge is incredibly easy to access with credit cards through DragonPass and/or Priority Pass. 

What you’d really give up without Gold or Platinum is entry to this specific lounge during peak departure times. During those windows, entry is limited to Gold and Platinum members, and credit card access is blocked.

Otherwise, the lounges that Gold and Platinum members can access in Canada are all part of other lounge networks (e.g., Plaza Premium and Aspire), and access is very simple to secure with a credit card such as the American Express Platinum Card.

So, if you’re set to lose lounge access as part of these changes (in 2028), consider adding a credit card with lounge access to your portfolio if you don’t have one already, and you probably won’t notice a difference.

Priority Services

With the eventual smaller pool of elites at each tier, priority services like check-in, boarding, and call-centre access are where the change is more obvious. 

With fewer elites overall (and especially fewer Platinums with the TQS threshold increasing by 50%), Zone 1 boarding should see fewer people standing up when it’s called. 

Platinum members will appreciate that, since it doesn’t really feel that exclusive when Zone 1 is called and half the departure lounge clears out to fill up that precious overhead bin space.

Priority services come in handy the most during peak travel periods when lineups make the travel experience less streamlined. Plus, when your flight is cancelled or affected by disruptions, not having to wait on the phone for hours is a significant upgrade for top-tier elites (when it’s delivered).

We’ll have to wait until at least 2028 to see if there are improvements to priority services, which is when the first cohort of status holders will make their debut with the new increased thresholds.

Complimentary upgrades

Another one of the key benefits offered to WestJet elites is complimentary upgrades. 

As a reminder, Silver, Gold, and Platinum members can all receive them at check-in and at the gate, with Platinum members getting the highest priority. Gold and Platinum members also get early access to buy upgrades.

WestJet offers travellers plenty of pathways to shell out cash (or points) for an upgrade before their flight, through both bid upgrades and an auction. 

Plus, premium leisure travel has been on the upswing over the past few years, so the airline is also just selling seats in Premium and Business Class (on long-haul flights with the Dreamliner) more than they used to. 

With so many paid options to upgrade and fuller premium cabins, there are fewer seats left over for complimentary upgrades. If there are any available, those will get assigned to Platinum members before any remaining seats make their way down to Gold and Silver elites.

This past summer, I upgraded from economy to Premium on a Flying Blue redemption between Toronto and Calgary for just $179. I scored an absolute steal, and I assume I took a seat that would have gone to an elite member as a complimentary upgrade.

A thinner elite group may help the odds a bit, but the paid upgrade options aren’t going anywhere.

Status Lifts still have a role

It’s worth noting that Status Lifts remain a useful way to close the gap to a threshold, if having status with WestJet is important to you and you don’t otherwise organically meet the spending threshold. They aren’t a realistic shortcut to status on their own, even though it’s technically possible.

At $375,000 in card spending for Platinum, very few people will spend their way there. I’d be curious to learn more about the number of folks who actually do this (and maybe offer them a complimentary Points Coaching call to optimize their spending and rewards…). 

Conclusion

As of January 1, 2027, WestJet is increasing the TQS required for all three tiers of status. This is the second bump in as many years, with the total jump from the 2024 levels ranging from 60–87.5%. 

If you’re affected by these changes, be sure to book eligible flights for January to March travel before the end of 2026 and register for the 50% TQS bonus. Then consider shifting some of your card spending towards some or all of the first 10 Status Lifts, since those earn the boosted rate.

If you comfortably clear Platinum each year, this change will likely work in your favour, with less competition for upgrades and a shorter Zone 1 line. If you have to hustle for status, be prepared to up your game (or consider other options).

WestJet status is getting significantly more expensive to earn, while some benefits are increasingly replicable with the right credit card strategy. In the coming days, I’ll be watching the forums to see how WestJet loyalists react.